Vacuum held footwear



May 22, 1956 s, TRANMAL 2,746,173

VACUUM HELD FOOTWEAR Filed Jan. 23, 1953 32"; 3 Q ss/ FIG 3 45 4o 4o 4 1 gg F|G.4

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i Y i'Il INVENTOR.

United States Patent VACUUM HELD FOOTWEAR Sigurd Tranmal, Rochester, N. Y.

Application January 23, 1953, Serial No. 332,861

6 Claims. (Cl. 36-2.5)

This invention relates generally to footwear and more specifically to footwear utilizing a vacuum means for holding the footwear onto the foot of the wearer.

In the past, footwear which is designed for use at the beach, in a shower, bath, athletic club, or the like, has taken two forms. The first form, comprises a device which is similar to a shoe. This type of footwear has the disadvantage that it is bothersome to slip on or off; also, it may soil the hands of the wearer. The second form of footwear is usually designed inthe form of a sandal comprising a sole member with a toe strap or toe cap. The disadvantage of the second device is that it is uncomfortable to wear since the heel of the sole usually falls away from the foot of the wearer at each step. Furthermore, the sandal type shower shoe is given to slipping off or away from the foot so that often a person may loose his shoe and walk in his bare feet.

One object of this invention is to provide a new and unusual footwear which is easily put-on or taken-off.

Another object of this invention is to utilize a vacuum to hold a shoe on the foot of the wearer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a shoe which will cling to the foot.

A further object of this invention is to provide footwear which clings tenaciously to a foot and yet may be easily removed as desired.

Other objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art from a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows in elevated view one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a section taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows another modification of my invention in a sectional View similar to that shown inl Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows by a top view how the device of Fig. 1 may be subdivided;

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 shows by a top view how a vacuum element may be'arranged to conform to the shape of a particular portion of a human foot; and

Fig. 7 shows a quick release feature for a vacuum element.

The embodiment of Fig. 1 shows a footwear which is formed more or less to conform to the general shape and configuration of the human foot. This arrangement shows a soft sole member 1 comprising lower surface 3 and upper surface 4 suitably joined by side member 5. The upper surface is shaped or formed into a plurality of vacuum elements 3 which are distributed over the surface of the sole. Preferably, these vacuum elements are shaped with a substantially continuous surface which is recessed into the upper surface or side of the sole. The orifice of each element is oriented to face upward'to engage the bottom of a foot. These elements are adapted to be deformed by the weight of afoot pressing downwardly so as to' expel the air therefrom to create a vacuum between'theelement and the footwhich causes the sole member to cling to the foot.V

Means'is provided for releasing the vacuum'so that ICC the footwear may be quickly removed from the foot. Fig. 2, a cross-section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, shows this feature. Space 8 represents vacuum elements shaped in a form suitable for the creation of a vacuum responsive to the application of pressure. This element may be continuous or may be provided with an opening 13 or a plurality of openings 13a so as to form an air passage into interior 10 of sole member 1. Thus, when the foot is pressed onto the sole, a common vacuum is built-up at each vacuum element 8. To remove the footwear, it is necessary to restore atmospheric pressure in an interior 10 of sole member 1 thereby eliminating the holding force in vacuum element 8. For this purpose a vacuum regulating device is shown as including two somewhat exible elements 6 and 7. When a vacuum is created by a downward pressure applied by the wearer, air is expelled from interior 10 by forcing element 7 away from element 6 thereby creating an air emitting opening 12. After interior 10 is evacuated, atmospheric pressure acting on the exterior of member 1 together with the elasticity of element 7 seals opening 12 by pressing element 7 against element 6, thus maintaining the vacuum. Hence, to remove member 1 from the foot, it is only necessary to move element 7 in the direction of arrow 14 once again to open passage 12 whereby atmospheric pressure forces air into interior 10 to destroy the vacuum which causes member 1 to fall away or be released from the foot.

Sole member 1 may be made by any suitable process, such as dipping, molding or cutting and cementing, for example. However, one method comprises the formation of a core or matrix 10 of an elastic, porous mass in which communicating air passages link the various pores. This core is then dipped to seal its external boundaries by an airtight layer 9. Holes or openings 12, 13 and 13a then may be formed at points selected for their vacuum controlling characteristics,

Fig. 3 shows still another modification which is a cross-sectional View somewhat like Fig. 2 in that it is taken along a line such as 2 2 across a sole member similar to that shown in Fig. 1, for example. In this case, sole member 30 is provided with a lower surface 31, side surfaces 32 and 33 and with upper surface 34 which may have openings 36 therein. These openings may be fairly large or they may be mere perforations. In either event, the wearer merely steps on upper surface 34 creating air pressure within the interior of member 36 which forces ap 37 away from engagement with side 33 allowing air to escape through opening 33. When the foot is raised a vacuum is manifested at openings 36 since iap 37 is constructed to have a restoring force after which atmospheric pressure forces it into a firm and sealing t against side 33 to close opening 38. For quick reiease, ap37 is pulled away, thus admitting air via opening 38 into the interior of element 30 thereby breaking the vacuum causing element 30 to fall away from the foot.

Fig. 4 is a top View of a modified sole member, such as that shown by Fig. 1, with upper surface 4 removed. This shows a compartmentalized member wherein the common vacuum may be broken down into small units by airtight interior walls 40 so that the loss of vacuum at any particular point, such as 41, for example, will not necessarily mean that the sole member will fall from the foot; rather, the vacuum at other points such as 42 will continue to hold and upon application of pressure on the next step, a vacuum again will build up in compartment 41 where it is assumed that vacuum was lost. In this case any or all of the compartments may be provided with a quick release feature such as flap 37 which is similar to that shown in detail in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a modification wherein one or more vacuum elements may be used in combination with any conventional holding devices. For example, a hollowed or concave device 50 is secured with its orifice facing upward to a sole member 54 at any suitable point such as the heel, ball of the foot, the instep, or elsewhere. To illustrate the invention, I'have shown a toe strap `55 which is used in combination with heel cup 50 secured to sole member 54 by any suitable means such as a fastening device 51 having an enlarged portion 52 which is embedded in the material from which element 50 is made. Fastening device 51 is then screwed, pressed, or fitted into sole member 54. One example of a fastening device such as element 51 is a simple rivet wherein end 53 may be swaged to provide a tight fit. Sole member 54 may be arranged with a recessed portion 56 to prevent end 53 from scarring the oor. Another example may be one involving fastening element 51 removably fit into sole member 54 thereby facilitating the replacement of heel cup t). That is, the fastening device may be a threaded member such as a screw or it may be a snap fastener, or similar device. v

Some of the figures show vacuum elements such as 8 and Si) as having a uniform geometric shape such as a hemisphere, part of an ellipsoid, or the like, for example; however, it is contemplated that vacuum elements having other than uniform shapes may be used also. To illustrate, Fig. 6 shows a top view of element 60 which is a heel portion broken away from a sole member at line 64. Here vacuum element 61 is arranged with its orifice facing upward to engage a portion of a human foot and takes a form corresponding to that of a human heel. That is, the rearmost portion 62 of vacuum element 61 is gently curved as is the rearmost portion of a foot while foreward portion 63 of vacuum element 61 is gradually sloped upwardly to conform to the contours of the sole of a foot. This same principle may be applied to the foreward part of the foot and a vacuum element may be formed after the fashion of toes or the ball of a foot, for example. Still another application of this same principle would be to form a depressed vacuum element which corresponds to a print of the entire foot.

Fig. 7 shows a quick release feature for individual vacuum elements such as those identified by the numerals 8, 50 and 61. In this case, side walls 71 of element 70 are more easily deformed than are side walls 72 of bulb 73 which is connected with the interior of element 70 by means of an air passage 74. Hence, when the wearer steps on element 70, side walls 71 are deformed allowing the trapped air to escape while side walls 72, being relatively less deformable, are not deformed to any great extent. For quick release, bulb 73 may be squeezed expelling air contained therein through passageway 74 to break the vacuum inside element 70.

It has been found that a vacuum element functions when used with either a barefoot or one clad in a foot covering such as a sock or stocking, for example; however, it is obvious that the vacuum element normally would function more satisfactorily when used in connection with a bare foot because the usual sock or stocking is porous thereby tending to diminish Athe tight seal required for the best vacuum. To avoid this disadvantage, a sock or stocking is impregnated or coated with a substance for making the fabric non-porous. For example, the sock may be impregnated with rubber, plastic,

or the like, at a point which is in juxtaposition to the vacuum element as used. Fig. 7 shows such an arrangement wherein a fabric foot covering 75 is coated at sections 76 and 7 6a for sealing element 'l0 when a vacuum is formed. It should be understood that sections 76 and 76a may be either a continuous or discontinuous strip. Section 77 is not impregnated so that the vacuum formed is between element 70 and the foot of the wearer. Section 76 may be adapted to the shape and contour of any particular part of a sock or stocking. For example, in the showing of Fig. 5, section 76 may form a band around the heel portion of the sock or stocking.

Element 78 is a fastening means whereby vacuum element 70 may be removably attached to a sole member thereby facilitating the replacement or positioning of the vacuum cups. The sole member is represented by element 79 which may be provided with an suitable means for selectively positioning the vacuum element. To illustrate, I show a slot 80 which is formed in sole member 79. Threaded element 78 may be inserted through slot 80 and vacuum element 70 may be moved in the direction of arrow A-A to a desired position after which nut 81 may be tightened to restrain element 70 against further lateral motion.

Various other modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art and therefore I intend to cover within the scope of the appended claims not only the examples shown and explained but also all other modifications that may fall Within the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A footwear comprising a sole member provided with an upper and a lower surface, said upper surface being provided with at least one vacuum cup, said cup being oriented with its orifice facing upward so that a vacuum is created between said cup and said foot responsive to downward pressure of said foot.

2. A footwear comprising a sole member provided with an upper and a lower surface, means for holding said footwear in engagement with a foot comprising a plurality of vacuum cups distributed over a substantial portion of said upper surface, said vacuum cups being oriented with their orifices facing upward so that a vacuum is created between said cups and said foot responsive to downward pressure of said foot.

3. A footwear comprising a matrix shaped to conform to the configuration of a foot, said matrix having at least an upper side and a lower side, said matrix also shaped to provide at least one vacuum forming portion in said upper side, said vacuum forming portion comprising a substantially continuous surface recessed into and extending partially through said matrix, means for sealing the entire boundary of lsaid continuous surface from said lower surface and against air pressure, said vacuum forming portion being positioned with its orice facing upward to engage the bottom of a foot so that downward pressure by a foot upon said upper side creates a vacuum between said foot and said upper surface for holding said footwear on a foot.

4. A footwear comprising a sole, a toe strap, a vacuum cup, and means for attaching said vacuum cup to the heel portion of said sole, said vacuum cupV being positioned to engage the bottom of a heel on a foot.

5. 'In a footwear of the type comprising a sole member having a vacuum element removably connected thereto, the combination comprising; a vacuum element shaped to form a vacuum with a human foot and means for connecting said element to said sole member, said element being oriented with its orifice facing upward to engage the bottom of a human foot, whereby said vacuum element is adapted to hold said sole member on said foot responsive to downward pressure by said foot on said vacuum element.

6. A footwear comprising a sole member, means for holding said sole member on a human foot comprising a vacuum element attached to said sole member, said vacuum element being oriented with its orifice facing upward t0 engage the sole of a human foot so that a vacuum is formed between said element and said foot responsive to downward pressure of said foot, and means for adjusting the position of said element with respect to said sole member.

Zerutche Mar. 28, 1922 Rose Mar. 30, 1937 

